Quinton de Kock, the prolific South African batter, has made a significant announcement regarding his retirement from one day internationals (ODIs) following the conclusion of the ODI World Cup set to unfold in India. Cricket South Africa officially confirmed this decision on September 5, coinciding with the release of the national squad comprising 15 players for the imminent World Cup campaign.
De Kock’s retirement from ODIs marks the end of a remarkable career in the 50-over format, where he has represented South Africa in 140 ODIs, amassing an impressive total of 5966 runs. His contributions have been nothing short of stellar, making this announcement a significant blow to the Proteas, especially considering that the batter is a mere 30 years old. Notably, de Kock had previously announced his retirement from Test cricket in December 2021, opting to focus solely on one format moving forward.
Cricket South Africa took to Twitter to officially confirm the development, stating,
“Quinton de Kock has announced his retirement from ODI cricket following the conclusion of the ICC @cricketworldcup in India.”
Enoch Nkwe, South Africa’s Director of Cricket, expressed his appreciation for de Kock’s valuable contributions to South African cricket. Nkwe praised de Kock’s aggressive batting style and his pivotal role in the squad for several years. De Kock’s tenure even saw him captain the team, an honor reserved for a select few. Nkwe acknowledged de Kock’s decision to step back from ODI cricket and extended gratitude for his years of service. He also expressed optimism about de Kock’s continued representation of the Proteas in T20I cricket.
In parallel, South Africa unveiled their 15-member squad for the upcoming World Cup, slated to commence on October 5 in India. Notably, young talents Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis, who featured in the squad during the three-match series against Australia, did not secure a spot in the World Cup lineup. Likewise, veteran Wayne Parnell, grappling with a shoulder injury, also missed the selection.
On a positive note, Keshav Maharaj and Sisanda Magala, who were initially uncertain due to injury concerns, have made a full recovery and secured their places in the squad. Additionally, South Africa’s World Cup squad features eight debutants, highlighting the team’s commitment to fostering fresh talent and competitiveness on the global stage.
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